Germany don lose one of their young stars for the World Cup. Lennart Karl, the 18-year-old midfielder from Bayern Munich, tear muscle for training on Friday and no go fit play for the tournament.
The German Football Association (DFB) confirm say Karl suffer torn muscle, and dem don call RB Leipzig midfielder Assan Ouédraogo, 20, to replace am. World Cup rules allow coach Julian Nagelsmann to call up replacement if serious injury or illness happen before 24 hours to kickoff of Germany opening match against Curaçao on June 14.
The injury happen for Germany final training session before their last warm-up match against United States for Chicago on Saturday. Nagelsmann talk for press conference say, “Unfortunately Lenni injured himself today in training. We need to wait on what happens with that and to be honest, it didn’t look so good.”
Karl be one of the top young players for any World Cup squad. He don break through for Bayern Munich, become the club youngest ever goal-scorer for Champions League. He make his Germany debut for March and don play three matches for national team, including start for last week 4-0 win against Finland.
According to reports from Bild and Kicker, Karl take the news very hard. He cry for pitch immediately after injury because he know say e serious. Antonio Rüdiger accompany am to dressing room. The team gather for hotel to say goodbye, and Nagelsmann give speech, tell Karl say e still young and get many World Cups ahead. Karl try to talk but barely fit get word out, and the room fall silent many times. He finally go to airport to return to Munich for rehab.
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf confirm say Julian Nagelsmann gather the whole team and staff for hotel to say goodbye to Lennart Karl before e go back home. Neuendorf talk, “Julian said a few words, the whole team was there. Lennart also managed to say a few words, even though it was difficult for him. He was extremely sad. I think he shed a few tears.”
Karl go miss the World Cup, but e no get major tear or break wey go sideline am for longer period. The German national team go miss am too, as e don quickly become important figure for the squad.
